“Nightbitch” (2024). Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Jessica Harper, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, Nate Heller, Darius De La Cruz, Ella Thomas, Stacey L. Swift, Adrienne Rose White, Kerry O’Malley, Ros Gentle. Director: Marielle Heller. Screenplay: Marielle Heller. Book: Rachel Yoder, Nightbitch (2021). Web site. Trailer.

Ah, motherhood – it’s one of those notions that, in the minds of many, is sacrosanct, inviolable and beyond reproach. Indeed, they believe, there is no more noble a calling than this, a venture to which every woman should unselfishly aspire and feel honored to experience. But is that really the case? Is it truly everything it’s said to be? In fact, isn’t it possible that some women who find themselves in this role aren’t cut out for it and innately regret having taken that step? “How dare they!” intolerant critics might exclaim. Yet that’s exactly the question called for examination in the edgy, satirical dark comedy, “Nightbitch.”

Writer-director Marielle Heller’s latest offering takes a frank, hard-nosed look at its subject, one to which many women can probably relate (even if quietly, secretly or reluctantly). In fact, to reflect that, the film refers to its characters generically, almost as if the circumstances examined here possess a kind of “everywoman” quality about them. That sort of anonymity is likely to provide a sense of comfort to audience members who hold the views expressed here, a way of showing that they’re not alone in their outlooks, a sentiment that’s more widely held than many women realize – or are willing to openly admit.

Mother (Amy Adams) is a former artist who agreed to become a stay-at-home mom when she and Husband (Scoot McNairy) decided to start a family.  And now that Son (Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden) is a rambunctious toddler going through the Terrible Twos, she’s overwhelmed by the unrelenting day-to-day care involved in raising the adorable little monster. Granted, she dearly loves her son, but the stress of having to always be “on” that typically comes with motherhood is beginning to wear on her. In fact, some – including Mother herself – would say that she’s about to crack.

In addition to all of the responsibilities associated with child-rearing, Mother misses the vocation that she left behind. She feels that, just because she became a mother, it doesn’t mean she stopped being a person, one with needs, interests and a craving for fulfillment involving something more than changing diapers and going to weekly Book Babies meetings at the local library. What’s more, she often feels burdened by caring for everything domestic – not just Son’s care, but also all of the cooking, cleaning and other obligations that come with being a housewife and that don’t stop when 5 o’clock rolls around, conditions for which Husband offers virtually no support, compassion or understanding. He essentially assumes that, as the household breadwinner, his job is done at the end of the day and that he’s entitled to stretch out on the couch watching TV while dinner’s being prepared.

Needless to say, Mother tires of this way of life, to the point where she grows resentful of her existence. Anger and frustration begin welling up within her, but is such behavior “allowable” for a wife and mother? Aren’t women in that position supposed to just accept their fate? Indeed, aren’t they snubbing their noses at a role that they allegedly took on cheerfully and without reservation, with an implied willingness to never complain about or grow openly frustrated with their circumstances? (I’m sure Husband would never, ever dare complain about what he undergoes in his job, so what gives her the right to do so?)

As time passes, though, conditions grow ever more exasperating for Mother, and she has trouble containing her feelings. She needs an outlet to express herself, and she finds it in a fitting, if somewhat unlikely source – the local canine population. Mother begins to relate to the instinctual nature of her four-legged companions, the almost-feral attitudes and behaviors of those in the dog world. She increasingly finds herself associating with her new compadres, even emulating their actions, freely and without hesitation. And, as a mother, she comes to take on the attributes of a bitch – in all its permutations.

Through this experience, Mother asserts herself in myriad ways – her lack of hesitation in expressing her frustration, her candor in admitting that motherhood isn’t everything it’s said to be, her need to express herself in ways other than being a 24/7 caregiver, and her right to demand that Husband become equally involved in the parenting experience, among others. She even assumes a soap box role that all women who become mothers should have the ability to express themselves when it comes to matters like these if that’s how they really feel and if they choose to vent those emotions if they want to.

These notions may not sit well with dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists. They might also raise feelings of noticeable discomfort among the conflicted who supposedly committed to such a conventional way of life. But, as Mother contends, there’s nothing inherently wrong with women who freely embrace and assert these ideas if they so choose. What does matter, however, is a woman’s right to expect more out of life for herself and to be able to freely express herself about it and then to pursue those interests despite being mothers. It’s certainly accepted that husbands and fathers are free to do so, but why should mothers willingly capitulate to a more limited palette of options? And must they really need to resort to acting like (and risk being labeled) a bitch for doing so?

Mother believes that there’s another way to go about this and uses her experience to explore it, even if it initially calls for such an aggressively assertive approach. But sometimes those kinds of actions are needed to get the ball rolling, to open the door to new possibilities and new beliefs that support them. That’s crucial in light of the role that our beliefs play in the manifestation of the existence we experience, a product of the conscious creation process, the philosophy that makes such outcomes possible. Mother and her female and canine cohorts may not have heard of this school of thought, but, if they (or any of us) hope to invoke change in our realities, altering our beliefs may be the starting point where we initiate the process to realize the new and more fulfilling results that we seek.

For starters, Mother needs to determine what she wants for herself as an individual and where motherhood fits into that picture, and that’s where her beliefs come into play. Perhaps most importantly, she needs to recognize that motherhood is part of who she is, not the be-all-and-end-all determiner of her being or character. She’s indeed more than just the chief cook and bottle washer. But, given the societal pressure placed upon women to be relegated to a conventional expression of this concept, can she muster the strength, confidence and wherewithal to move beyond that limited, restrictive view?

If the answer is “yes,” then she needs to put beliefs into place reflective of that notion. In Mother’s case, she must be able to assert herself to insist that she can be just as much a working artist as she is a caregiving parent. In turn, she must also insist on having the means to be able to carry out these objectives. This can involve a variety of undertakings, such as making sure that Husband understands his need to pull his share of the weight in raising their son – specifically the notion that his “job” doesn’t stop at the end of the day any more than hers does. She need not be nasty or confrontational in achieving this, but she does need to be clear, direct and emphatic that her needs and wants extend beyond those of being a mother alone.

In carrying out this process, it would also be in Mother’s best interests in coming to understand everything involved in the nature of motherhood, something that often goes unrecognized and wholly overlooked. For instance, at one point, Mother goes into a monologue about the potentially inherent dangers involved in assuming this role, particularly in the act of giving birth. It’s a tremendous responsibility, one with innate risks, including everything from the searing pain of passing a whole new person through the constrictions of one’s loins to the potential for tremendous physical damage (especially if a procedure like a Caesarean section must be performed) to even the possibility of death during childbirth. Such conditions call for tremendous personal fortitude and courage, qualities that women should recognize and embrace – and be able to tap into for themselves in other ways in their lives, especially when it comes to seeking the fulfillment of individual satisfaction.

To that end, Mother continues, this calls for women to appreciate that they are intrinsically powerful beings – gods, in fact – who are capable of tremendous creative potential. Indeed, if women can do something as significant as create a new life, think of what other possibilities are open to them – provided that they allow themselves to access and execute them. Again, this is something directly tied to their beliefs – most notably, their beliefs in themselves.

It’s somewhat ironic that the traditional view of motherhood often gets in the way of women being able to experience these opportunities, especially when the expanded perspective of this concept is itself responsible for making these additional acts of creation and expression inherently possible. Were one to look upon the intrinsic qualities of “motherhood” from this standpoint, one might see how many doors this notion can actually open up. It truly goes beyond just making sure there’s an adequate supply of Huggies in the house. That’s a creatively fulfilling destiny that’s open to all women – and one that shouldn’t be passed up just because one has children.

“Nightbitch” is an insightful treatise on what this kind of “dog-ged” determination can make possible, as long as one is willing to examine it, formulate beliefs around it and put it into everyday practice. And director Heller accomplishes this through a multifaceted discourse on the subject, one that offers diverse realizations about it that some may find challenging to sort out but that also carry the promise of and potential for tremendous personal growth and development. In doing so, the film presents an array of both unnerving scenarios, supplemented by a wealth of inventively comedic possibilities. What’s most impressive about this film, though, is its uncompromising honesty in addressing its subject, an approach that yields a realistically revelatory view of the concept of motherhood, one that (as the protagonist so astutely observes) shows it as being about “more than just sunshine and baby powder.” While it’s true that the narrative sometimes tries to cover a little too much ground and doesn’t always link its assorted observations as effectively or cogently as it might have, it nevertheless uncovers the heartfelt beliefs that some women sincerely hold about being mothers, outlooks that the blinder-clad Pollyannas among us might consider inconceivable or even heretical despite their intrinsic candor and viability.

Credit the authenticity behind this to the filmmaker and to Adams, who turns in yet another stellar portrayal, one that earned her Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations for best lead performance. Kudos also go out to McNairy, as well as the two young brothers cast in the role of the son, all of whom provide superb support. To be sure, “Nightbitch” may not appeal to everyone, and some could even find it shocking or blasphemous in some regards. But at least the picture doesn’t try to pull any punches, and there’s much to be said for that given the prevailing naïve and unassailable qualities often associated with the idea of what it’s actually like to be a mom. The film is available for streaming online.

Motherhood is certainly deserving of the credit given to it, particularly in light of the demands it places on those who practice it. However, as this film illustrates, we need to be careful about how readily it’s elevated to unattainable pedestals of sanctimony where criticisms about it dare not be expressed, especially given that many who carry out this role will attest that it’s not always everything light and beautiful that it’s made out to be. To change that view to something more realistic, we need to examine it with a new set of eyes, one through which the beliefs we hold about it are more grounded in the truth than in grand and unachievably naïve terms. This is where the unmasking of motherhood’s true character needs to take place – and for the ultimate betterment of us all.

Copyright © 2024-2025, by Brent Marchant. All rights reserved.